Fluoride
Camden Waterworks
Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems. Read More.
Fluoride has been promoted as a chemical that reduces dental cavities. Yet it is now well-established that fluoride primarily exerts its protective effects through topical mechanisms, such as sodium fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. In contrast, long-term ingestion of fluoride in water increases dental fluorosis, which includes mottling, pitting and weakening of the teeth. EPA's maximum legal limit is set at 4 parts per million (ppm) to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a condition where bones become brittle and more susceptible to fractures, although these effects may occur at lower doses.
Even fluoride levels of 0.7 ppm, the amount of fluoride in drinking water recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service, can result in too much fluoride for bottle-fed babies. EWG recommends that caregivers mix baby formula with fluoride-free water. The National Toxicology Program is investigating the potential for low doses of fluoride to alter thyroid function and childhood brain development.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 0.711 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.590 ppm - 0.850 ppm |
2015 | 0.883 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.530 ppm - 1.29 ppm |
2016 | 0.877 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.710 ppm - 1.17 ppm |
2017 | 1.08 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.920 ppm - 1.17 ppm |
2018 | 0.998 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.680 ppm - 1.22 ppm |
2019 | 0.922 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.720 ppm - 1.17 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 4 ppm
ppm = parts per million
All test results
Date | Lab ID | Result |
---|---|---|
2014-01-15 | 140220016 | 0.670 ppm |
2014-02-10 | 140550010 | 0.680 ppm |
2014-03-11 | 140760045 | 0.850 ppm |
2014-04-21 | 141150012 | 0.850 ppm |
2014-05-27 | 141550010 | 0.780 ppm |
2014-06-23 | 141810036 | 0.700 ppm |
2014-07-15 | 142020027 | 0.590 ppm |
2014-08-19 | 142370023 | 0.730 ppm |
2014-09-03 | Y142470015 | 0.740 ppm |
2014-09-10 | 142650007 | 0.660 ppm |
2014-10-07 | Y142860021 | 0.660 ppm |
2014-11-17 | Y143290016 | 0.610 ppm |
2014-12-15 | Y143520020 | 0.720 ppm |
2015-01-20 | Y150330017 | 1.15 ppm |
2015-02-11 | Y150510005 | 1.29 ppm |
2015-03-16 | Y150820025 | 0.530 ppm |
2015-04-06 | Y151030005 | 0.770 ppm |
2015-05-07 | Y151340031 | 0.640 ppm |
2015-06-09 | Y151670019 | 0.970 ppm |
2015-07-06 | Y151950010 | 0.890 ppm |
2015-08-10 | Y152260065 | 0.870 ppm |
2015-08-18 | Y152320020 | 0.830 ppm |
2015-09-08 | Y152580005 | 0.940 ppm |
2015-10-07 | Y152850027 | 0.970 ppm |
2015-11-03 | Y153130032 | 0.900 ppm |
2015-12-09 | Y153520001 | 0.730 ppm |
2016-01-11 | Y160200022 | 0.710 ppm |
2016-02-02 | Y160400018 | 0.790 ppm |
2016-03-22 | Y160950003 | 0.790 ppm |
2016-04-12 | Y161160008 | 0.900 ppm |
2016-05-16 | Y161440041 | 0.890 ppm |
2016-06-27 | Y161870023 | 0.890 ppm |
2016-07-18 | Y162070022 | 0.870 ppm |
2016-07-19 | Y162030016 | 0.830 ppm |
2016-08-22 | Y162370006 | 0.720 ppm |
2016-08-23 | Y162420018 | 0.870 ppm |
2016-09-19 | Y162700029 | 0.880 ppm |
2016-10-24 | Y163020009 | 0.960 ppm |
2016-11-15 | Y163280015 | 1.17 ppm |
2016-12-14 | Y163550012 | 1.01 ppm |
2017-01-17 | Y170200009 | 1.12 ppm |
2017-02-08 | Y170440001 | 1.11 ppm |
2017-03-08 | Y170790008 | 1.05 ppm |
2017-04-24 | Y171210025 | 1.14 ppm |
2017-05-24 | Y171560007 | 1.13 ppm |
2017-06-13 | Y171770003 | 1.09 ppm |
2017-07-12 | Y171980066 | 1.12 ppm |
2017-08-02 | Y172260010 | 0.950 ppm |
2017-08-21 | Y172360026 | 1.04 ppm |
2017-09-18 | Y172680028 | 1.06 ppm |
2017-10-10 | Y172890030 | 0.920 ppm |
2017-11-13 | Y173240035 | 1.15 ppm |
2017-12-12 | Y173540069 | 1.17 ppm |
2018-01-29 | Y180370015 | 0.800 ppm |
2018-02-05 | Y180430033 | 0.680 ppm |
2018-03-07 | Y180720005 | 0.830 ppm |
2018-04-17 | Y181130015 | 1.02 ppm |
2018-05-07 | Y181340010 | 1.17 ppm |
2018-06-04 | Y181620011 | 1.14 ppm |
2018-07-09 | Y181970039 | 1.22 ppm |
2018-08-14 | Y182320029 | 1.11 ppm |
2018-08-21 | Y182350007 | 1.19 ppm |
2018-09-06 | Y182530030 | 1.04 ppm |
2018-10-23 | Y183020014 | 0.900 ppm |
2018-11-13 | Y183240031 | 0.880 ppm |
2019-01-08 | Y190140064 | 0.940 ppm |
2019-02-18 | Y190560024 | 0.990 ppm |
2019-03-06 | Y190700054 | 0.990 ppm |
2019-04-10 | Y191050040 | 1.17 ppm |
2019-06-28 | Y191890007 | 0.980 ppm |
2019-08-20 | Y192380007 | 0.800 ppm |
2019-09-09 | Y192550003 | 0.720 ppm |
2019-09-11 | Y192590018 | 0.800 ppm |
2019-10-28 | Y193100019 | 0.980 ppm |
2019-11-18 | Y193290018 | 0.850 ppm |